Man…I don’t know if anyone can relate but life has been punching my guts out lately. For real…it can take a toll not only physically but emotionally and spiritually too. Our whole being can get weary of the constant blows that come in different areas of our lives.

Things transpire we don’t understand. Our minds try to grapple with the questions that arise. Our soul feels all of the turmoil as our aching heart pounds with the heaviness of disappointment and uncertainty. 

It seems our world has turned upside down lately: runs on food and toilet paper are filling Facebook news feeds, empty shelves and long lines are the norm. It feels a bit overwhelming and yes, a little scary. It’s easy to fear the unknown uncharted waters of adversity.

One of the most misunderstood and most underutilized gifts Jesus promised us is the Holy Spirit. Many churches have split over this misunderstanding. If anything will be argued about it will be this one aspect of Christianity. 

If you’ve noticed life can throw some really hard things at us. No one is immune. We can be having a great day and in an instant bad news can leave us devastated. Our marriage our health our kids our very life can all be the target of the enemy. He’s a punk who doesn’t play fair.

Yes. That sounds like an easy enough word to say. But then again that would depend on the question. If I asked you to go to coffee yes might be easy. If I asked you to empty your checking account and give it to me maybe not so easy.

Do you ever get frustrated when answers don’t come? Maybe not but I sure do. Humans…we want what we want when we want it; maybe that’s just a part of our selfish “always about me” unconscious attitude. If you asked any of us if we were selfish most would deny such a nasty attribute.

There’s a word that brings fear to our hearts at its mention. The overwhelming feelings and the threat of its outcome can be frightening. So many are suffering from its effects, so many don’t live through its onslaught. We may have friends or loved ones who have been affected or maybe it’s us who struggle. It’s the “D” word…it’s Depression.

This week is the third part to a series of Blogs called Part Of A Whole. It seems like a simple topic but if we’ve never realized how the Body of Christ is to function and what our part could be we may never have considered how we may fit into this equation. 

I have been feeling Jesus was not finished with what he laid on my heart last week in the Blog “Part of a Whole.” I’m a teacher so I’m just in that mode currently!  This is Part 2 of that Blog and there may be a Part 3. 

The Holy Spirit…he’s so many things but what I love is how he leads us. He just nudges us ever so slightly and if we are sensitive to his leading we will notice it and obey. I felt a few weeks ago to revisit Ephesians. There was something the Lord wanted me to see. So I began to read that book several times over. 

A hundred sermons could be preached using the children of Israel! There are so many lessons we can learn from their blunders. I guess we could all say that about each other. 

It seems people go into every New Year with high expectations for the “new”. We know some things need to change so we make resolutions for our health; our finances or we set new achievable goals. While some of that is good the real goal of a New Year is to seek God and see what he is saying and desiring for that New Year. 

“When you don’t think you can forgive what’s happened, when it’s His heart beating in you — you can forgive in a heart beat.” Ann Voscamp

Shut up!! It doesn’t take much to get my attitude fired up and that did it. This is not the time to give up, settle or quit! Our past is just that…past. Pick up those pieces and see how each one came together to help make you who you are today!

Isaiah 35:6b-7a “For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.”

Bad news...heartbreaking news…it’s never easy to see a Minister fall especially in this way. The weight of this tragedy weighs heavy on my heart and I’m sure yours. You can read the story here.

Ephesians 6:13b...”and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].” We all face things…hard things. Trials, people issues, hard times last way longer than we hope they will sometimes.

As I scroll though Facebook I see friends putting out Thanksgiving AND Christmas décor around their home and the fun chatter about exactly when one should bring out the Christmas decorations. After all aren’t there rules about such things?